Bullet-proof helmet.



K. KEMPNY.

BULLET PROOF HELMET.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I, 1917.

1,251,537. Patented JaIL. 1, 1918.

Unrrnn sra'rns Pasta FFIQE.

KARL KEMPNY, 6F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

BULLET-PROOF HELMET.

Application filed February 1, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KARL KEMPNY, a subject of the Emperor of Austria, resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bullet-Proof Helmets, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

This invention relates to helmets and has special reference to a bullet proof helmet for use by soldiers.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved general construction of bullet proof helmet.

A second important object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of helmet wherein the armor will be so arranged as to either effect disintegration of a bullet striking the helmet or the gradual stoppage of the bullet so as to reduce the shock incident to the impact of the bullet on the helmet.

A third important object of the invention is to provide a helmet of this description with a head fitting inner shell so connected to the armored portion of the helmet as to permit resiliently resisted movement of the armored portion with respect to the inner shell in any direction.

lVith the above and other objects in view, as will be hereinafter apparent the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and

Figure 1 is a vertical median section through a helmet constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the helmet.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section thereof taken in the planes indicated by the lines 33 Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a face view of a small portion of the exterior showing the arrangement of certain spikes used herewith, the view being on an enlarged scale.

In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated there is disclosed a helmet having a main or body portion lQ 9f conoidal Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

Serial No. 146,003.

form and this portion is provided with a brim 11 a portion of which forms a vizor 12, the brim and vizor sloping downward from the bottom edge of the body. This body and brim are preferably made of a steel alloy, having high resistance to penetration, such as a nickel steel, the parts being thus made in ordervthat they may be light enough for comfortable wear while at the same time they are strong enough to prevent penetration by a bullet, a piece of shrapnel or the like.

The entire body is covered with a multiplicity of pyramidal spikes, 13 of like material and having stems 14: which pass through suitable openings in the body and having their inner ends riveted over as at 15 so that the spikes are firmly mounted on the body. It is especially to be noted that the bases of the spikes are so set as to touch each other on the sides so that the bases cover the entire outer surface of the body.

l/Vithin the armored portion thus formed is a cap or head piece 16 so formed of a suitable fleXible material, such as leather, that it will closely fit the head of the user. This cap is provided with a chin strap 17 to hold it in place on the wearers head and is spaced within the armored body by means of helical springs 18 each of which has one end fixed to the cap and the other end fixed to the inside of the body. These springs are preferably radial in general arrangement so that, no matter at what angle a bullet strikes the body or spikes the armored portion may move to a certain extent in the general direction of the flight of the bullet.

In use it will be noted that a bullet will either strike on the point of a spike or between certain of the spikes. In the first case the bullet will be split up and disintegrated so as to scatter and not penetrate the helmet. In the second case the bullet will gradually come to a stop by the wedging action effected by the spikes between which it strikes and thus the shock of impact will be greatly reduced.

In both cases any shock not absorbed by the disintegration or wedging of the bullet will be absorbed by the springs.

There has thus been provided a simple and eflicient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that many minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material principles thereof. It is not therefore desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described but it is wished to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. A bullet-proof helmet consisting of a metallic body and a. plurality of tapered metallic members projecting from the body in juxtaposition; a cap within the body adapted to fit the head of the user; and spiral springs arranged between the cap and body to permit yielding movement of the body under influence of a blow upon said metallic members.

2. A bullet proof helmet consisting of a metallic body, and a multiplicity of pyramidal spikes projecting from the body and having the sides of their bases contacting with each other and covering the entire outer surface of the body, a cap within the body adapted to fit the head of a user, and spiral springs arranged radially between the cap and body to permit yielding movement of the body under influence of a blow in any direction on said spikes.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

KARL KEHPN I. Witnessesz.

' E. E. GIBSON, D. FRIEDLING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. I

Washington, D. G. 

